bead

(archaic) Prayer, later especially with a rosary.

Each in a string of small balls making up the rosary or paternoster.

A small, round object with a hole to allow it to be threaded on a cord or wire, particularly for decorative purposes.

Various small, round solid objects.

A small drop of water or other liquid.

A bubble, in spirits.

A small, round ball at the end of a barrel of a gun used for aiming.

A rigid edge of a tire that mounts it on a wheel; tire bead.

(architecture) A narrow molding with semicircular section.

Knowledge sufficient to direct one's activities to a purpose.

(chemistry, dated) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe.

Front sight of a gun.